THANK YOU!…………………………………………

A long time customer writes:

“A funny thing happened on my way to buy a McIntosh MC-240 stereo tube amplifier. I knew exactly where I was going to purchase my vintage tube amplifier; Classic Tube Audio. I have been working with Pat Hickman, Head Tubeologist, at Classic Tube Audio for more than a decade with Pat bringing my C-28 Preamp to factory perfection, he then worked on my MR-78 followed by my Thorens TD-125 turntable. While looking at the 240 I noticed there was a pair of sorry looking McIntosh MC-30’s on the floor. My very first McIntosh system included a pair of MC-30’s and I immediately remembered the warm beautiful sound the 30’s produced. They were in pretty bad shape but I told Pat the story of my first really good stereo. Pat volunteered that we could switch the project to the MC-30’s and I immediately jumped on the offer. What a wonderful decision! Pat brought this pair of sorry looking monoblock amps to perfection. All visible areas were addressed; transformers were expertly brought to perfection including filling in any dents or dings with Bondo, sanded, primed and painted. The transformers were top-offed with absolutely accurate decals, the epitome of attention to details. What turned these MC-30’s into the beautiful amps are the addition of new chrome chasis with correct decals. They just gleam in the their perfection. Every detail to match high quality capacitors, tubes, and all new components so that the closest matches were distributed between the two amps. This makes a tremendous sonic equality between the amps. To sum it all up the amps are visibly and electronically equal. Like everything Pat does these amps were returned to perfection. They look like brand new MC-30 monoblock amplifiers. I do have a history of McIntosh amps that include my MC-2105 to the behemoth of all amps a MC-2300 that gives me a unique outlook on sound quality.

I worked in the Audio Industry initially as the owner of Quicksilver Audio repair shop in the House Of Music in Salt Lake City, Utah. I quickly found that with my electronic technician education (ATN) in the U.S. Navy and ability to listen well I was a formidable audio salesman. I quickly became a top salesman and later the Manager of The House Of Music. The pinnacle of my audio career culminated in 3 day trip to McIntosh in Binghamton, NY. Each day we were expertly guided on the many facets of McIntosh Laboratories by Gordon Gow. We saw manufacturing, speaker research, marketing support, got to meet Frank McIntosh and every other facet of operations. After the guided tour the evening was spent with Gordon Gow dining on Haute Cuisine followed by nightcaps back in the hotel. The evening nightcap sessions were the liveliest and most informative sessions of the day.

The majority of my career was spent in the Personal Computer industry ranging from retail sales, software support finalizing in my 20+ year career at Central Washington University Computer Support Services. My computer career only heightened my appreciation for vintage audio equipment with the introduction to digital music. While opening many technologies digital advances always came at the expense of fidelity. The pure sound of vinyl produced by tube technology became even more important in my quest for a really good sound system.

I’ve found that the value of power output has been become extremely corrupted with systems reporting output in the thousands of watts per channel. One only has to sit down and listen to a whopping 4.2 watts of pure sonic perfection produced by the Whammerdyne “Truth” amplifier to understand fidelity wins every time over wattage.

I know that I have ingredients to build a sonically excellent system. I owe so much of this to the wonderful advice and mentoring Pat Hickman has provided during our personal/professional friendship. “Glowing Tubes All in a Row perfection”

4 Responses

Pat,
I just wanted to throw in an update to let you know how my much I love my system. I got my replacement stylus yesterday and I’m now listening to vinyl reminding me how rich, warm and full vinyl and tube amps sound. I believe I have a really good start on fantastic system. I christened the new setup with listening to Santana’s “Caravanserai” Album and the guitar riffs were so full and clean, the bass is full and the percussions are just sublime. Hope to get down and see you this summer to catch up on everything. Going to my 55th High School Reunion and have two classmates that live in or close to Wilsonville.
Again, Thank you so much for your professionalism and I’m so proud to call you a friend,
Lynn Linnell

Wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed the McIntosh MR71 tuner you sold me. While there are not a lot of great FM Stations in Atlanta the tuner sure shines on NPR. The Hovland Caps you installed gives the tuner a rich sound with vivid images and a solid sound stage.
Thanks So Much

Guitar Amp

Eurotubes
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We are into tubes! We deal in JJ Electronic tubes and NOS tubes. We are located in Milwaukie Oregon and have customers in every corner of the world from Tasmania to Iceland! We are not your standard corporate model based on the “hey lets make some money”

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These are the best capacitors – PEROID. Used in Pats reference system.

Eurotubes
We are into tubes! We deal in JJ Electronic tubes and NOS tubes. We are located in Milwaukie Oregon and have customers in every corner of the world from Tasmania to Iceland! We are not your standard corporate model based on the “hey lets make some money”

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Eurotubes
We are into tubes! We deal in JJ Electronic tubes and NOS tubes. We are located in Milwaukie Oregon and have customers in every corner of the world from Tasmania to Iceland! We are not your standard corporate model based on the “hey lets make some money”

V-Cap Capacitors
These are the best capacitors – PEROID. Used in Pats reference system.

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